PATNA, Apr 26 : Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday strongly defended the anti-encroachment drive in the state, which prompted the opposition to allege that his government was following Yogi Adityanath’s “bulldozer raj” in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.
Choudhary, who was in Tarapur, his assembly constituency in Munger district, said even his own house had not been spared under the drive, which aimed at creating a “beautiful and prosperous Bihar”.
“I am told that many people have been inconvenienced by the anti-encroachment drive. I would like to tell them that even the stairs leading to my house have been demolished as part of the drive”, said the chief minister, who earlier this month became the first BJP leader to head a government in Bihar.
Notably, parties like the RJD and the CPI(ML) Liberation have been alleging that Bihar had become “a laboratory of bulldozer raj like UP”, ever since Choudhary, then a deputy CM, was allocated the Home portfolio in November last year.
The opposition parties also alleged that “bulldozer raj” grew more intense since Choudhary succeeded JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, who had moved to the Rajya Sabha.
Choudhary said, “Let me assure all that no structure will be touched if, as per records, it has been erected lawfully on private land. But there will be no leniency where encroachment on government land comes into sight. We must take tough decisions to build a beautiful and prosperous Bihar.”
During the budget session of the assembly a few months ago, the BJP leader had told the House, “My name is Samrat Choudhary, and I do not wish to be synonymous with the bulldozer. Bihar will always follow the Nitish model of governance.” (PTI)
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